Means for connecting a trailer to a draft vehicle



NOV. 27, 1951 AVERY 2,576,383

MEANS FOR CONNECTING A TRAILER TO A DRAFT VEHICLE Filed March 30, 1.949v 2 SHEETS- -SHEET 1 N VEN TOR.

ATTQRNE),

Nov. 27, 1951 D. B. AVERY V 2,576,383

MEANS FOR CONNECTING A TRAILER TO A DRAFT VEHICLE Filed March so, 1949 v2 SHEETS.SXiEET 2 P7P 6 I1 9- 5 INVENTOR.

' l man: a. lW'RK M EM Patented Nov. 27, i951 MEANS i on CONNECTING ATRAILER TO A DRAFT VEHICLE Dallas B. Avery, Pontiac, Mich., assignor ofonehalf to Harvey A. Watson and Lora! Watson,

both of Capac, Mich.

Application March 30, 1949, Serial No. 84,395

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a means for connecting a trailer with avehicle the object being to provide a device connectable at thereargend-of a vehicle, as for instance an automobile-or other draftapparatus with which a trailer is connectable, which permits the trailerto assume various angles relative to the draft apparatus due tovariations in the road surface.

These and other features and objects of the invention are hereinaftermore fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which-Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the means forconnecting the device to a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, the vehicle body not beingshown.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the position of the device when notin use.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a portion 4 of the vehicle body I and at theouter and lower end of the body is an extension 2 to which a bumper 3 isconnected. The portion indicated at 4 has oppositely inclined brace bars5 which extend from the portion 4 to the inner face of the plate 6, arepreferably of the same width as member 3 and are attached thereto. Ateach end of the bumper 3 is a brace bar I and a similar brace bar 8extends at an angle to the bar I and is attached to the member 6 on theinner face of the bumper.

The bars 1 and 8 have similar end portions 9 and I6 secured to a sideframe ll of the vehicle and similar members are provided at the oppositeend of the bumper not shown in the drawing.

Supported in the side walls l2 and I3 is a hinge pin 24 extendingtherethrough. The member l4, when in the position shown in Fig. 4, maybe turned on the pin 24 to the position shown in Fig. 1. A similarlysupported pin 25 which has spaced transverse slots 26 and 21, isturnable by means of the lever 29. With the parts in the inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 4 the member 14 carrying the ball I9 is turnableon the pin 24 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and, in so turning themember I4, the ends of the side walls l2 and I3 pass through the slots26 and 21 in the pin 25. When the member I4 is in the position shown inFig. 4 the pin 25 may be turned to the position shown in Fig. 3 therebylocking the parts in position for use or reversely turned when not inuse as shown in Fig. 4.

Between the chassis frame 4 and the bumper is my trailer connectingdevice which comprises a frame having two side walls l2 and I3 andintegral with the side walls I2 and I3 is a base 29 secured to thechassis frame 4 as by means of a bolt [5 and secured to the frame member4 are rearwardly;

extending pin like elements I6 and I1 respectively engaging the sidewalls l2 and I3 of a frame between the chassis frame 4 and the member 6on the inner side of the bumper 3. The elements "5 and H in addition tothe pin l 5 serve to prevent lateral displacement of the frame. MemberI4 has an upturned and outturned end l8 and supported on the end I8 is aball like element l9 secured in position thereon by a pin 26 which, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, extends through an aperture provided in the saidend l8 and is secured in position at the lower end by a nut 2|. The ballis positioned in a socket 22 connected with a trailing vehicle by themember 23 as more particularly shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ball end is in position for use and, when not inuse, the member [4 is positioned on the under side of the frame element4 of the vehicle chassis as shown in Fig. 4. In moving the member 14 tothe left, from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 3, theedges of the side walls l2 and 13 pass through the slots 26 and 21 inthe pin 25 and when the pin is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3the member l4 cannot be turned on the hinge pin 24. For safetys sake inpulling a load an aperture 28 is provided in each of the side walls 12and I3 to receive a solid pin, not here shown.

The ball I9 is positioned in a socket 22 provided therefor in aninstrumentality 23 at the rear of the draft vehicle.

It is believed obvious from the above description taken in conjunctionwith the drawing that the various features and objects of the inventionare attained by the structural arrangement and relationship of parts.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. Means for connecting a trailer with a draft vehicle comprising ahollow rectangular frame,

connected at one end to the rear frame of the vehicle and at the otherend to the bumper, the frame having aligned apertures in its oppositeside walls, a pivot pin extending through a pair of said apertures, amember with a ball end having spaced upright flanges with acorresponding pair of aligned apertures through which said pin extendsfor pivotally mounting said member upon said frame, each of said flangeshaving an arouate notch near one of its ends, said notches beingtransversely aligned, a locking pin extending through a second pair offrame apertures and through said flange notches and having transverseslots in horizontally spaced parallel relation, means for turning saidlocking pin whereby said slots may be aligned to receive the outer edgesof said flanges to thereby permit the member having a ball end to bepivoted about said first pin from operative to non-operative positioneach of said flanges having an arcuate notch near the other of its ends,said latter notches being transversely aligned to cooperatively receivesaid locking pin whereby said ball member may be in operative position.

2. Means for connecting a trailer with a draft vehicle comprising a pairof parallel spaced members secured to the draft vehicle, a member ,witha ball end having spaced flanges adjacent its other end positionedbetween said parallel members, a pivot pin extending throughcorresponding openings in said flanges and said parallel members, eachof said flanges having an arcuate notch in one edge near one of itsends, said notches being transversely aligned, a locking pin lockedspaced from said pivot pin and extending through said notches andthrough corresponding openings in said parallel members, said lockingpin having parallel spaced slots, projecting means on said locking pinfor positioning the base of said slots parallel with the edge of saidflanges to permit turning of saidmember to inoperative position, andpositioning the base of said slots at an angle to the edges of saidflanges to pervent turning of said member, each of said flanges havingan arcuate notch near the other of its ends, said latter notches beingtransversely aligned to cooperatively receive said locking pin wherebysaid ball member may be locked in inoperative position.

DALLAS B. AVERY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Riemann et al. Oct. 1,1946 Number

